Car-coupling



(No Model.)

G. H. DUKE. GAR COUPLING,

Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

WITNESSES. E I

rrrcn.

GEORGE H. DUKE, OF I-IOTCHKISS, COLORADO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,958, dated December 30, 1890. Application filed May 29, 1890. Serial No. 353,584. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. DUKE, of Hotchkiss, in the county of Delta and State of Colorado, have invented a new and Improved Oar-Ooupler, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in ear-couplings; and the object of my invention is to provide an automatic coupling by means of which railway-cars may be easily coupled together without danger to the brakemen, and also to produce a coupling of few parts that will be strong, durable, and efficient.

To this end my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a broken perspective view showing the end of a car provided with a coupling embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the coupling on the line w a: of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 isabroken horizontal section on the line 2 y of Fig. 2.

The car A has suitably supported thereon a draw-head B, which is preferably rectangular in shape, having a suitable opening in the front end, and having a depending beveled flange B extending from the upper front edge thereof within said opening. The drawhead B is also provided with a perforation 1),

extending vertically through the same to receive an ordinary coupling-pin with a perforation b extending transversely through the same, in which a pin may be inserted to hold the draw-bar in position for coupling with an ordinary link, as hereinafter described, with a longitudinal slot 1) in the bottom, in which the dog forlifting the draw-bar is movable, as described below, and with a vertical perforation 12 in which a pin is inserted to hold the draw-bar in position in the drawhead or draw by, if desired, shortening the longitudinal slot 0 in the draw-bar.

The drawbar O extends longitudinally through the draw-head B, and is beveled upon the upper and lower sides of its forward end portion, which is provided upon the under side with a transverse triangular recess, forming the shoulder c and head O, as best shown in Fig. 2. The shoulder a is adapted to engage a coupling-link, as hereinafter described. The bar is provided with a thin portion O adapted to rest in the rear portion of the draw-head, and with an upwardly-projecting flange 0 arranged upon the rear end of the draw-bar and adapted to limit the vertical movement of said rear portion. The drawbar 0 is also provided with a vertical slot 0, through which an ordinary coupling-pin may project, and with a longitudinal slot 0 through which the pin D extends to hold the drawbar in position in the draw-head. The pin D extends vertically through the perforation b of the draw-head and through the slot 0 of the draw-bar, thereby holding the drawbar in position and permitting a limited longitudinal movement of the same, to be regulated by the amount of slack desired by the operator in starting trains.

A perforated plate E rests upon the portion 0 of the draw-bar above the slot 0 of the same, the pin D passing through said plate, and a spiral spring d, which encircles the pin D, rests upon the plate, so as to bear against the same and against the upper portion of the draw-head, and tends to press the draw-bar downwardly, so as to cause it to readily engage with the coupling-link, as described below, and hold the link in its right position.

The coupling-link F is straight upon its lower edge, but slightly beveled upward at the ends to adapt it to easily enter the drawbar, is beveled upon the upper side from each end toward the center, and is provided with a vertical slot F, extending nearly the entire length thereof. In the beveled upper surfaces of the link at each end is formed a transverse recess to receive the head 0 of the draw-bar, the shoulder F at the outer end of said recesses being adapted to engage the shoulder c of the draw-bar O, and said recesses also leave a vertical boss F which extends upwardly from the center of the link, and the sides of which press against the outer end of the draw-bar 0 when the cars are bum ped together and push the draw-bar rearwardly, so that the cars may be easily uncoupled.

A rod G extends transversely across the lower side of the draw-head B, being pivoted in suitable supports thereon, said rod having fixed thereto a rearwardly and upwardly extendingcurved arm G',which projects through the slot Z) of the draw-head B and rests against the lower side of the draw-bar C. To each end of the rod G is fixed a suitable lever II, the inner end of one of said levers being connected by a rod II with a lever H pivoted upon the top of the car, so that by manipulating the said lever the rod H, lever ll, rod G, and arm G will be actuated, thus raising the forward end of the draw-bar 0 when the car is to be uncoupled. The inner end of each lever H is connected by a rod h with a lever 7L, which levers are pivoted upon the front end of the car and extend beyond the outer edges of the same, so that the coupling may be operated from the sides of the car as well as from the top.

In constructing the device the slot 0 in the draw-bar C should be of such length as to permit the forward end of the draw-bar to extend slightly beyond the forward end of the draw-head.

The device operates as follows: When the cars to be coupled come together, the link F enters the draw-head B below the beveled end of the draw-bar C, and when the shoulder F of the link passes the shoulder a of the draw-bar the pressure of the spring d upon the draw-bar forces the said shoulders into engagement, and when the strain is applied to pull the cars the forward end of the drawbar will travel down the beveled flange 13 of the draw-head, and the draw-bar and link will be firmly wedged in the front portion of the draw-bar, so that the drawing strain will come entirely upon the draw-bar, the link, and the draw-head, as they will form a deadlock, and there will be no strain upon the pin D. If necessary or desirable, however, said parts may be adjusted so that they will not form a dead-lock, and the strain may be allowed to fall on the pin D. To uncouple the cars the rod G is turned by the lever H or it so as to raise the arm G and draw-bar 0, thereby disengaging the shoulders c and F so that the link may be easily drawn from the draw-head. This movement is facilitated by the inclined flange B, which enables the draw-bar to slide easily backward, and the draw-bar will usually be back in position to be easily lifted, as it will be forced into said position by the boss F on the link F. Then an ordinary coupling-link is to be used in connection with the device, the draw-bar (l is raised to the upper portion of the draw-head and a pin inserted through the perforation b beneath the draw-bar, thereby holding it in that position. The coupling-link will then enter the lower portion of the draw-bar, and

a pin may be inserted through the perforation I) and through the link in the usual manner. An ordinary coupling-pin may also be used with the link F, said pin being inserted in the perforation b of the draw-head and through the slot F. of the link.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A car-coupling consisting, essentially, of a draw-head supported on a car and having a depending beveled flange on the upper side of the entrance thereto and a spring-pressed draw-bar located in the draw-head and having a beveled forward end and a shoulder thereon, substantially as described.

2. A car-coupling consisting, essentially, of a draw-head supported on a car and having a depending beveled flange on the upper side of the entrance thereto, a spring-pressed drawbar located in the draw-head and having a beveled forward end and a lockingshoulder thereon, and a coupling-link beveled upon its upper edge, having suitable shoulders to engage the shoulder of the draw-bar and having a central boss to press against the forward end of the draw-bar, substantially as described. 7

3. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head suitably supported upon a car and having a depending beveled flange at the front entrance thereto, and a spring-pressed draw-bar located in the draw-head and provided with a beveled front end having a suitable locking-shoulder on the under side thereof, of a coupling-link beveled upon its upper sides, provided with suitable shoulders to engage the locking-shoulder of the drawbar and a central boss to press against the end of the draw-bar, a rod mounted transversely on the under side of the draw-head and provided with an upwardly-extending arm projecting through a slot in the drawhead and resting against the draw-bar, and a suitable lever mechanism connected with said rod and extending to the top and sides of the car, by which the rod and draw-bar may be operated, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the draw-head B, suitably supported upon a car and provided with the beveled flange B at the entrance to the draw-head, and the draw-bar 0, having the beveled head 0, the locking-shoulder c, and a suitable spring pressing downwardly thereon, of the link F, having shoulders F and boss F, the rod G, mounted upon the under side of the draw-head and having the arm G projecting through a slot in the drawhead and resting against the draw-bar, the lever H, fixed to the outer end of the said rod, and the levers H and 72 suitably connected with said lever H, and by means of which the draw-bar may be operated, substantially as described.

5. -In a car-coupling, the combination, withv longitudinal movement to the draw-bar, subthe draw-head B, suitably supported on the stantially as described. ear and provided with a vertical perforation Z), of the draw-bar 0, adapted to 'engage the GEORGE DUKE 5 coupling-link and having a slot 0 therein, Witnesses:

and the pin D, extending through the perfo- DAVID W. SWENDT, ration b and slot 0 so as to permit a limited E. .T. REIOH. 

